Teran added to issues on Slovenia-Croatia plate

Ljubljana, 5 December - Having fought over their shared border for over two decades, Slovenia and Croatia have also become embroiled in a fight over the Teran, a strong red wine.

DobrepoljeThe Teran wine, one of the most recognizable products from the south-western region of Kras.Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA

Tensions started simmering in 2016, when Croatia sought an exemption from the protected designation of origin Slovenia had registered for the wine, but boiled over when the EU granted the exemption partially based on what Slovenia believed were fraudulent documents.

Under pressure from winemakers afraid that their sales would suffer, the Slovenian government mounted an intense campaign to uphold the protection but it failed to convince a sufficient number of EU member states to sign up for its position.

In the end, it triggered court proceedings against the European Commission at the EU Court of Justice for granting the derogation enabling Croatia to use Teran as the name for a grape variety for a wine produced on the peninsula of Istria. The court is yet to weigh in on the matter.